Editorial: Fire concerns over smart meters appear overblown

A single fire will always be one too many. On average, about 35 people die in fires in British Columbia every year, most of which could have been prevented.

So the fact that at least two fires broke out in homes after the installation of smart meters is a concern. British Columbians have a right to expect that the installation of the new meters is making them safer, not putting them at greater risk.

They also have a right to expect that where there are problems, as there inevitably will be with a program of this magnitude, they will be the responsibility of BC Hydro to fix and not be laid on their own doorstep.

Even so, some perspective is required. With about a million smart meters already installed, the number of fires, while too many, is both statistically minuscule and not out of line with the risk of fires related to home distribution systems before the installation program began.

Statistics collected by Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis show that over a five-year period, there were about 11,100 house fires in British Columbia. A quarter were cooking-related. Another 18 per cent were caused by smoking. About 480, or just over four per cent, were electrical and only 22, or .2 per cent, were related to the meter and distribution panel.

So the danger before the installation of smart meters began was slight and it has remained slight. Most homeowners can sleep soundly in the knowledge that properly installed wiring that hasn’t been overloaded is not hazardous and unless it gets damaged, rarely needs attention.

Nonetheless, even though the risk of electrical fires is relatively low, we should be aware of the signs that house wiring needs to be inspected and possibly repaired. If lights start to flicker, plugs stop working or circuit breakers start tripping for no apparent reason, a certified electrician should be consulted.

If any these start occurring after the installation of a smart meter, concerned residents can call BC Hydro. Gary Murphy, the chief project officer for the smart meter installation program, assured The Vancouver Sun that the utility will come out and inspect the meter as an emergency call with no charge to the customer. If they discover problems with the house wiring unrelated to the meter, they will inform the customer who will then have to hire an electrician.

Safety will always be a relative measurement. So far there seems no evidence to support the complaint by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that the decision not to use qualified electricians for the installations has created a safety hazard for homeowners.

During the installations to date, Murphy said there have been more than a thousand cases in which the installers spotted problems with the meter base which were subsequently repaired by qualified electricians before the new meters were installed.

They also found a couple of hundred cases where meters had been previously tampered with, as often happens with marijuana growing operations.

So we look forward to hearing the result of the investigations into the cause of the two fires that have followed the installation of smart meters. But there is no indication so far that British Columbians should be any more concerned about fire hazards with the new meters than they were with the old.